Consider that, today, more than 70% of Americans use social media—up from only 5% tallied in 2005, according to the Pew Research Center. A handful of key players in the space continue to rule. Social Media Examiner's "2017 Social Media Marketing Industry Report" revealed that the top platforms used by marketers are Facebook (94%), Twitter (68%), LinkedIn (56%), Instagram (54%), YouTube (45%), Pinterest (30%), and Snapchat (7%). So what's in stor for 2018?

Mobile Future partnered with the Analysis Group's David Sosa, Ph.D. and Mac Van Audenrode, Ph.D. to conduct a study that reveals mobile broadband's role in boosting the United States economy. The study, titled "Private-Sector Investment and Employment Impacts of Reassigning Spectrum to Mobile Broadband in the United States," concludes that reassigning 300 MHz of additional spectrum to wireless networks would spur $75 billion in capital spending, creating more than 300,000 jobs and $230 billion more in GDP. By reassigning 200 MHz of new spectrum would create 200,000 jobs and increase GDP by $155 billion, the paper predicts.

Currently, U.S. mobile networks operate at 80% capacity, while the worldwide aggregate usage rate is 65%. The researchers emphasize that private sector investment that leads to job creation can be further stimulated by adding spectrum to mobile broadband. Capital spending in the wireless industry created about 420,000 jobs between 2002 and 2010. Mobile Future is a coalition of American technology and communications companies, consumers, and non-profit organizations, which supports an environment that encourages investment and innovation in the wireless industry.